Life saving suit



D. HORNYAK Feb. 7, 1933.

LIFE SAVING SUIT Filed Oct. 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 5 7 W/. L 2 L .m 1 M a 1 III II Feb. 7, 1933. D. HORNYAK LIFE SAVING SUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 1, 1932 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 P EN F1cE" mazso HOBNYAK, or CLEVELAND, omo V LIFE SAVIN snr'r Application filed October 1, 1982. Srial m. eaassa j This invention relates to life saving suits particularly of the type adapted'to enclose the entire body exclusive of thehead.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a suit ofthe above mentioned character having a water-tight neck connection to prevent water from leaking through to the interior of the suit around the neck of the wearer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a life saving suit of the above mentioned character which may be formed of rubber or rubberized fabric and which may be'provided with a sliding closure extendlng from the neck of the suit to substantiallythe waistline. j

A still further object of this inventionis to provide a life saving suit having an ad ustable neck portion or collar which may be adjusted by manipulatinga pair of oppositely disposed screw threaded shafts tomove semi-circular yokes into engagement with the .users neck. j I

Astill further object of this inventlon 1s to provide a neck portion or collar for the life saving suit formed of semi-circular sections hinged together and locked at the free ends by means of a snap fastener whereby the suit may be readily applied or removed without requiring considerable time on the operators part.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a life saving suit with a neck encircular members are formed hollow in order .to provide air spaces WhlCh form buoyant an upright position in the water regardless tcring the water.

,aOther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the'following description, forming apart of the specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a life saving suit'embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a top elevational view' of the collar orneck engaging portion illustrating 40 of the manner or position assumed while enthe construction thereof and illustrating the 7 Figure 8 of the semi circular yoke members illustratmented or fastened to the pants portion 11- m i I 1 -Li. semi-circular hinged sections along with the adjustable neck engaging yoke members; Figure 3 is arear elevational view ofthe semi-circular neck" engaging'members showing the manner in which theyare hinged 7.

together in theback showing the yoke adjust ing screws carried by each semi 'circular secti i i Fi gure4 is" a front elevationalview of the semi-circular neckengaging members illustrating the closure fastener or hasp for "securing the hinged sections together; 3 a

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through the neck 'engagi'n'gjcollar illustrating the air chambers formed in the semicircular members and also showing themanner in which the semi-circular yokes are *adjus'tably I mounted and operated the screw'thr'ead'ed shaft;

Figure '6 is a top elevational view ofone L79 cover of the air chamber removed; j

Figure 7 'is an interior side 'elevational' View of one of the neck engaging semi-circular members illustrating the channel-way inv which thesemi-circularyokes are positioned; and"i a of the semi-circular" members showing :the

is a topelevational view of one ing he manner in which the screw threaded Tadjusting rod is attached thereto. f a

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters I will be employed to v designate like parts throughout the same, the' g5 reference character 10 will generally be emmembers whereby the user will always assume iployed designate life Savmg Suit which a sliding closure 18'which extends from the neck portion 15 to the waist band 12. The pants portion '11 "are bifurcated andare provided with rubber shoes which may be ceextends through the leaves 26. .It is intendedto cement the neck engaging portion to the semi-circular sections '21 and 22 and after cementing the same in place, it is intended to 15 vulcanize the same to prevent leakage of wa er The free ends of the semi-circular members '21. and 22 are' adapted-to be connected together by means ofa hasp which includes a leaf 127 secured in place by rivetsor the like .28 to which is hinged a'pivoted member 29 as at 30 having therein a slot31 for receiving a loop member 32 secured to a plate 33 rigidly secured ;t0 -one of the semi-circular members i .25 as at 22. A swinging catch 34 is pivoted to .the pivotedfastening-member 29 as at 35 and is provided with a hooked end 36 adapted to 'be passed through the loop 32 whereby the .two sections-21 and 22 may besecurely held 30 together.

formed identically alike. and each comprise i a casting having arcuatelycurved outer walls 39 and arcuately curved inner walls 38 which 4 are substantially in concentric relation to ;each other and said inner and outer walls 38 and 39 extend upwardly from a bottom wall 40, while the ends-are closed by endwalls 41. Formed on the interior of the innerwall 38 .45 is a. pair of semi-circular rib members 42 which form a channel-way 43 for receiving gadjustable yoke members which will be hereinaft'er' fully described.

Eachof the semi-circular members 21 and. 22 as shown 'inFi'gures 6 and 7 is provided .with bosses. 45 arranged instaggered relation so that acover 46 may be applied thereltoand held in place by-screws 47.- Each of the covers 46 are of substantially the same configuration asthe: semi-circular members .21 and 22 and are formed identical in shape and construction. Interposed between the l cover 46 and the semi-circular casing comprising the side wall 38-, 39 and bottom wall 40 is a'semi-circular packing member 48 which'is adapted to prevent leakage of water .-into'the chamber 49 adapted to be employed -by an air drum by reason of the fact that the air sealedtherein forms a buoy for the'life C5 sav ingsuit-1O which will assist the user thereof to stay upon the surface of the water when using the garment. 7

Each of the cover plates 46 is provided with leaf members 50 secured in placeby rivets or the like 51 and adapted to be connected together by removable p'intles 52 as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, whereby the structure will be braced and prevent separation ofthe sections 22 and will prevent the resulting tearing or ripping of the semicircular sections from the waist or neck portion of the garment. I

Slidably mounted in each of the grooves 43 of the semi-circular members are yoke members '55 which are 'arcuately curved so as to besnugly received within the grooves 43, and said yoke members 55 are preferably formed of asoft material capable of engaging the neck of the user for'preventing water from entering the interior'of the suit .10i through theneck opening 15 Centrally journalled relative to each of the semi-circular yoke members 55 is a screw threadedrod 56 having a thumb engaging portion 57 and said rods 56 are screw threaded in 'the bottom wall '40 as clearly shown in Figure 5 and designated by. the reference character 58.

By operating the thumb portion 57 the arcuately curved yoke 55may be moved 1n the groove 43 toward or away from the users neck, thereby forming a complete, sealagainst the inclusion of water. 1

It is to be understood "that theinvention forms a float by reason of the air chamber 49 as well as a neck engaging portion which is adapted to seal'the suit against the inclu- .sion of water and that'various changes may be made relative to the size, shape and construction of the device without departing from the spirit of the; invention orthe scope c.

of the sub-joined claims. I

Having thus described the invention, what Iclaim is: i V v 1. A life saving garment of the character described, comprising a bifurcated trunk portion, a waist portion having sleeves and ,a neck portion, a sliding closure extending from the neck portion to the bottom of the waist portion, a pair of semicircular hinged neck engaging members carried by the neck portion, means for fastening, the semi-circular members together, an air chamber incorporated'in the semi-circular members and adjustable sealing members carried by the semi-circular members. r J

2. A lifesaving garment of the character described, comprisinga neck portion, semicircular hinged members carried by the neck portion, an air chamber incorporated in each of the semi-circular members, means for fastening the semi-circular members together and adjustable sealing members carried by each of the semi-circular members adapted toengage the neck of the wearer and prevent the intrusion of water.

3. A life saving garment comprising a bifurcated union suit formed of a flexible water-proof material, sleeve and leg portions formed on the suit, a neck opening formed in the upper portion of the suit, a shding closure extending from the neck opening to the mid-section of the garment, a pair of hinged semi-circular hollow members secured to the neck portion so that the hinge will be in the rear, a closure member for thefront of the semi-circular members and sliding sealing members carried by each of the semi-circular members adapted to engage the neck of the wearer and prevent the intrusion of water.

4. A life saving garment of the character described, comprising a bifurcated suit having arm, leg and neck portions, a sliding closure extending from the neck'portion to the mid-section of the suit, closure members for the sleeve and leg portions of the'suit, a pair of hinged semi-circular hollow members secured to the neck portion, a fastener'for se curing the free ends of the semi-circular members together, an interior annular groove formed on each of the semi-circular members, arcuately curved sealing members slidably mounted in the groove, and means associated with each of the arcuately curved sealing members for adjusting the same relative to the semi-circular members.

5. A life saving garment of the character described, comprising a bifurcated suit having leg, arm and neck portions, closures for the leg and arm portions, a sliding closure extending from the neck portion to the mid-' section of the bifurcated suit, a palr of hinged semi-circular members having an interior air space secured to the neck portion of the garment, means carried by each of the semi-circular members for locking the same together, a semi-annular groove formed interiorly of each of the semi-circular members, a sliding neck engaging member received in each of the grooves, a screw threaded shaft having one of its ends journalled in the sliding sealing member and the opposite ends provided with a thumb engaging portion whereby turning the thumb engaging portion will move the sealing members into engagement with the neck of the user.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DEZso HORNYAK, 

